Carrick publicly rejects Fernandes' tactics criticism after Como's 4-1 Champions League rout

Michael Carrick has publicly disagreed with Bruno Fernandes after the Manchester United captain twice criticised the club’s tactics and culture following Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.

Fernandes first questioned Carrick’s approach in a post-match interview with English broadcasters, suggesting United lacked the bravery to press high and make Como uncomfortable. “That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me,” Fernandes said. “Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable. A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide.”

The captain then gave a second interview, this time to Italian media, in which he widened his criticism to the club as a whole. “Everyone at the club must understand that it’s no longer the same,” Fernandes told Sky Sport Italia. “We’re no longer in the past and we must look to the future. At this club, we focus too much on what was achieved in the past, but we are no longer the same. The club and the players must understand this.”

Carrick, when presented with those comments, was direct in his response. “I don’t agree with him, but at the moment we are very far from that level,” the United manager said. “When we arrived in January we picked up more points than anyone else until the end of the season, so this team has shown that it can achieve good results over a long period of time. But we need to do much better after this start to the season.”

Carrick also addressed speculation over his own position. “Am I at risk? I’m not the one who matters tonight,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen but I’m not at the centre of the situation. The important thing is the club, the history, the tradition and the values we represent, and today we didn’t live up to that.”

Fernandes’ public comments drew sharp criticism from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who branded the Portuguese midfielder an “absolute disgrace.” The captain was substituted in the 66th minute and was visibly frustrated, throwing his coat to the ground as he left the pitch — a gesture Carrick did not acknowledge on the touchline.

“Nobody likes to leave the pitch, especially with a result like that,” Fernandes said of the substitution. The defeat leaves United facing serious questions about their form and internal cohesion at the start of the season.